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Why the Conversation About Lupus Matters

Lupus is a complex autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks healthy tissue, causing inflammation that can affect the skin, joints, kidneys, heart, brain, and other organs. One of the most challenging aspects of lupus is that it does not look the same in every person. Symptoms vary widely, often fluctuate over time, and can mimic other conditions, making lupus especially difficult to recognize, diagnose, and manage. There is currently no cure.

What Makes Lupus Especially Challenging

• Symptoms are often invisible, unpredictable, and misunderstood
• Diagnosis can take years, delaying treatment and care
• Many individuals face limited access to specialists
• Lupus disproportionately impacts women and communities of color
• Emotional, physical, and financial burdens affect entire families

Lupus Rarely Exists Alone

Research and lived experience show that lupus often overlaps with other autoimmune conditions, creating compounded challenges for those affected.

• Many individuals with lupus live with one or more additional autoimmune diseases
• Overlapping symptoms can result in fragmented care and misdiagnosis
• Education and healthcare systems often treat autoimmune diseases in isolation, rather than as interconnected conditions

Our Approach

At Marlene’s Kaleidoscope Foundation, we believe understanding is the first step to action. Our work begins with honest, community-centered conversations that lead to awareness, advocacy, and support. By expanding our focus to include lupus-related and overlapping autoimmune diseases, we are addressing the real experiences of our community and creating pathways to better education, resources, and quality of life.

“Every day with lupus is a battle. But in a place with no map, no guide, and no army beside you, it’s not just the disease you’re fighting—it’s the system too.”

— Founder, Marlene’s Kaleidoscope Foundation